Multiterminal structure



Nov. 26, 19460 I M. c. GAUTHIER 2,411,783

MULTITERMINAL S TRUG TURE Filed Dec. 1, 1945 H FIG.

lNl EN TOR MCZGAUTH/ER ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 26, 1946 MULTITERMINAL STRUCTURE Marcel C. Gauthier, Montclair, N. J., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 1, 1943, Serial No. 512,437

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to multi-terminal structures, and more particularly to molded panel terminal structures.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, efficient and practical terminal panel structure formed of interfitting sections.

With this and other objects in View, the invention comprises a panel structure comprising a plurality of interfitting panel sections, certain of the sections having terminals molded therein, these sections jointly forming the wall of a housmg.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan View of the panel structure, and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, there are illustrated plain sections ii! and H and terminal supporting sections l2 and 54. Sections IE! and II are of the cross-sectional contours shown in Fig. 2, and are of desired lengths depending upon the width desired. These sections are called plain sections as they donot include terminals therein. A frame or casing structure, indicated at l5, includes a bottom it and sides ll. Mounting strips i8 fixed to the sides ll have threaded apertures l9 at desired spaced positions therein for the securing of the sections l0, Ii, l2 and I4 in place by suitable means such as screws 28.

The bottom section I9 has an integral tongue portion 22 adapted for interengagement with a grooved portion 23 of the section l2, to support the latter and provide an interfitting seal therebetween. The sections l2 and M are identical with grooved portions 23 adjacent the lower edges thereof and tongue portions 24 at their upper edges. In this manner any desired number of the terminal supporting sections may be disposed in stacked formation as illustrated in Fig. 2. Groups of fiat terminals 25 molded in the sections [2 and I4 are almost completely embedded in lateral portions 26 of the sections, these portions being reenforced by integral ribs 21. Notches 28 are formed in the exposed ends of the terminals for connections with electrical conductors. The section II is substantially identical with the section Ill, the only difference being that the inner portion 29 thereof is grooved to receive the tongue portion 24 of the section it.

Apertures 30 are formed in the ends of the sections to receive the screws 20 for the securing of the sections in place. When thus mounted, it will be apparent that the interfitting sections form a completely closed wall or partition for the frame or casing structure [5. A back wall or panel 32, having terminals or electrical units 33 mounted therein, may be electrically connected to the terminals 25 through the aid of conductors 34. In such structures it is ofttimes desirable to embed the electrical connections between the panels with an insulating compound. This is possible due to the fact that, although the front panel is composed of a plurality of sections, the sections are not only interfitting and interlocking against displacement but are provided with seals against the escapement of such sealing compound.

These sections of which the front panel is composed, are preferably molded of a suitable insulating material. By molding the terminals in the sections 12 and M, the necessity for drilling operations and the provision of additional accessories for mechanically mountin the terminals on the panels is eliminated; also, the time and effort required for their assembly. In this structure a multiplicity of terminals may be simultaneously molded in each section and their rigid support as well as their insulation from each other is assured. Only two plain or non-terminal supporting sections are illustrated but it should be understood that others may be employed, the number desired depending upon the number of terminals required for a given apparatus and the size of the frame structure l5 so that a complete panel may be formed from these sections.

Although specific improvements of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are but illustrative and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A mnlti-terminal structure for a casing having a bottom and side walls, the latter having parallel vertical mounting members fixed thereto, the structure comprising a base panel section, with a to-ngued upper edge, resting upon the bottom of the casing and having its ends secured to the vertical mounting members, a plurality of molded panel sections each having spaced sets of laterally extending terminals with their ends extendin from the front and back faces of the sections, each terminal panel section being formed with molded portions extending outwardly from and integral with the front face thereof to surforming interlocking connections, and a top panel section, with a groove extending longitudinally in its bottom edge for interengagement with the tongue of the topmost terminal panel section, having its ends secured to the vertical mounting members to cooperate with the other panel sections to form a liquid tight wall in the casing MARCEL C. GAUTHIER. 

